For students and practitioners of complementary and alternative therapy everywhere.

Politically Correct Therapy

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PC or Not PC. That Is A Question by Tony Hardiman

I sit on a small committee that is beginning to look at minimum standards for tuition and assessment of ability leading to National Occupational Standards. This is likely to be an immense task with so many differing therapies, attitudes and standards in our group.

We are all concerned that the public at large has been told that Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) administered other than by a GP is useless at best and possibly downright dangerous. Television exposes have tried to belittle for the sake of press all forms of energy work and the skills of highly respected therapists. Facts have been distorted as in the case of ‘X-Ray’ vision when we all know that we work with thermal imaging.

We are all, or should be, well aware that different herbal remedies interact with each other and can nullify or intensify the effects of prescription drugs. In every clinic that goes beyond the ‘Feel Good’ massage into non allopathic assessments, sports injury repairs and counselling is to be found in the library, a published reference volume of prescription drugs and their side effects, interactions and contra-indications.

Should a member of the public be dissatisfied with the Medical care and goes to see a Therapist, it is critical that the effect of that meeting and the success of treatment is to the best possible standard. Otherwise, the person in need may be put off altogether seeing the correct and capable person needed for that complaint.

Quite apart from anything else, it is the reception that determines the success of any clinic. Those where the staff are all in white coats, slacks and caps with white tiled walls will cater for the austere and sanitary approach where the patient / client may not feel at ease to simply ‘Let go‘. In many cases, the therapist has not been taught to work on the backside or inside of the thigh or the breast and that if there were a complaint, the insurance ceases immediately and they will be suspended pending the enquiry. Often it is said that there must be no communication outside of the Clinic.

On the other hand, those who take care to paint the walls in a soft colour with an off white ceiling and have comfortable chairs and couches will inevitably engender a far more personal attitude. A freedom of expression such that in our case, it can take a new patient 30 seconds to come in and start crying with a release of tension and stress. All our students and clients or patients are taken as part of the family and join in talking to each other, discussing treatments and experiences. With some, we mix socially and hundreds come to our infrequent parties.

We regularly conduct full body deep lymphatic drainage to include inguinals and breast tissue. We treat those with damage to the coccyx and surrounding ligaments. One of our Associations issued in the revised codes of conduct that we must have a chaperone in the room. Absolutely not. For anyone to be made to strip off in front of other than the therapist is beyond belief. No such indignity should be imposed on anybody, male or female.

Occasionally, by full agreement, our advanced students attend such examinations to learn the diagnosis and treatment. No-one is ever forced to allow this but I am told that is the case in some places.

The training to such a standard where this can be done without embarrassment to either party can take 10 to 20 years. How can one apply the same rules to a 60 year old practitioner, in a stable relationship with no sexual thought in her head to one who has not yet detached therapy from sex ? How does one single out those who are suitable for training and those who are not? How do you teach the correct response to an unwanted suggestion without all the embarrassment and risk that could result if handled incorrectly.

Too many tutors teach anyone and have little or no regard for the suitability of the student. How, in postal or weekend courses may one teach the personality skills needed to be not just good but to excel in one’s profession? How does one deal with the lascivious comments from some men who say ‘I wish I had your job’ etc. I have been known to respond that with such an attitude, it is no wonder you do not have my job.

The persistent complaint and most common thing that I hear in my practice is that a patient comes to me and says

‘I have been told there is nothing that can be done and I will be like this for the rest of my life’.

What they should have been told is that there is nothing I / we can do for you. People come to me in despair having seen many consultants and other therapists. They can be quite suicidal because of the so called PC distancing approach. To help them back to recovery is rewarding in the extreme.

We are told in some books

‘never touch a patient and if someone starts crying, sit back and simply offer a tissue‘.

I would have no one to treat if that was adopted here. Everyone needs a hug. It is how you do it that is important. I have 1500 registered patients and virtually all have come by word of mouth referral. That is the reputation all should seek.

Please let us be aware of the shortcomings of PC and allow our clients and patients to be people rather than a source of income. In a position of trust, how can we ask another to trust us if we do not offer that courtesy in return. Do not let us be led like sheep into adopting rules and standards that do not work. A certain amount of anarchy and individuality is good. Start standing up to those who will try to control you and set good standards that are realistic. Otherwise we may find that a trivial breach of a rule may nullify our insurances !!

Sort out with your associations and insurers what it is you actually do. Make sure you are covered and not likely to be left out to dry if you go outside of that description. Also read the rules of conduct and complain if there are changes with which you do not agree.

It is now the rule that a Doctor may not have a relationship with anyone who has been a patient at any time. This used to be an honourable state where if some feeling was expressed and the parties free to do so, a suitable period elapsed and the other party was registered with another Doctor long before any intimacy took place. To now say that can never happen is an imposition on personal freedoms and integrity.

Free your selves from the inhibitions of constraint and do the job you are meant to be doing. Show utmost respect and caring for all. Your reputation is your armour. Even that may not fully protect you from lies and malicious accusations.

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